Mechanical butter dispensing machine



March 13, 1951 T. A. TIscHLER 2,544,739

MECHANICAL BUTTER DlsPENsINC MACHINE Filed May l2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZAM/em T. A. TISCHLER MECHANICAL BUTTER DlSPENSING MACHINE March 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1948 March 13, 1951 T. A. TISCHLER MECHANICAL BUTTER DlsPENsINC MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

@MQ/Alamy@ Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE MECHANICAL BUTTER DISPENSING MACHINE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing machines and, in particular, to machines for dispensing butter or other materials of similar consistency.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine for dispensing butter or other materials of similar consistency, wherein automatic mechanism is provided for slicing oli and delivering one pat of butter in a given time period in response to the actuation of an operating member, such as a lever or button, regardless of how many times the operating member may be moved during that time period.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing butter in which the butter is held in a rotary magazine or hopper containing elongated blocks of so-called prints of butter, the actuating mechanism causing the magazine to be rotated past a cutter which slices off a pat and delivers it to the operator of the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing butter which will rapidly dispense uniform pats of butter from such elongated blocks or prints without any need for care on the part of the operator, thereby adapting the machine for use in restaurants, hotels, and other places where pats of butter are required in large quantities.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing butter wherein the machine during its cycle of operation impresses an insigne or design on the bottom of each print of butter prior to the slicing off of a pat, so that each pat is marked with a distinctive design, such as the name of the restaurant or hotel or the brand of the butter.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing butter wherein a rotary magazine in a series of peripheral vertical chutes carries a number of elongated blocks or prints of butter and wherein other spare prints thereof are stored in the central space in the magazine, means being preferably provided for maintaining the magazine at such a temperature that the butter is of the proper consistency to be sliced oi into pats and delivered to the user.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing butter, as set forth in the preceding objects, wherein the rotary magazine is rotated step-by-step through a plurality of stations by power-operated mechanism, the bottom of each block or print of butter being impressed with a design at one station and a pat bearingthis design sliced off at a subsequent stationv anddropped through a delivery chute or opening.

. 2 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a butter dispensing machine according to a preferred form of the invention, taken along the line I-l in Figure 2,' the parts being in their neutral positions immediately after the completion of an operating cycle;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1, with the right-hand portion of the rotary magazine broken away to disclose the imprinting and slicing mechanism beneath it;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary developed vertical section through the slicing and delivery portion ;of the machine, taken along the arcuate line 3 3 in Figure 2;

Figure V4 is a central vertical section through the lower portion of the machine, taken along the line 4--4 in Figure 2 substantially at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the control mechanism for the machine With the parts in the positions they occupy immediately after the starting lever has been depressed and released but before the driving motor has started operating;

Figure 6 is a vertical section along the linc 6-6 in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a miniature side elevation of the machine as a whole, showing a refrigerating unit attached to the rear thereof and connected to a cooling coil in the hollow walls of the machine.

General construction In general, the butter dispensing machine of this invention consists of a housing or casing having a double-walled upper chamber and a lower chamber. Rotatably mounted in the upper chamber is a rotary magazine having vertical feed chutes arranged at intervals around its periphery and of such dimensions as to slidably receive elongated blocks or prints of butter in sizes in which butter is commonly sold, such as quarter-pound prints. The magazine is rotated step-by-step by motor-driven mechanism past an upwardly-moving plunger which marks a design on the bottom of each print of butter. Further rotation of the magazine carries the bottom portion of each print of butter past a horizontal slicing wire stretched across a delivery opening in such a manner that the motion of the magazine over the delivery opening causes an imprinted pat `of butter to be slicedoff the lbottom of the print. The pat of butter thusi 3 detached from the print, drops onto a suitable platform or receiver or into the hands of the operator, as desired.

The magazine is rotated step-by-step and indexed from station-to-station by an electric motor which moves its output shaft a predetermined number of revolutions and then halts. The energization of the motor is controlled by an operating lever coupled by paw] and ratchet mechanism to control mechanism which closes an electric switch, the latter in turn energizing the driving,T motor. rThis mechanism is so constructed and arranged that even ,if the operator depresses the operating lever several times in quick succession, the driving motor still .causes the magazine to rotate through but a single cycle to detach but a single pat of ,butter- By this arrangement it is thus possible to jam the mechanism or cause it to slice 01T imperfect pats of butter. The operator thus has the power only to start the cycle of operations, but cannot thereafter interfere with Vit until the cycle has run its course.

H ousz'ny construction :Refer-ring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and '7 show a butter dispensing machine generally designated I-D as including a hollow approximately cylindrical base housing or casing I I sup-.- ported by feet I2 of rubber or the like and in turn carrying a double-walled upper casing I3 with spaced outer and inner concentric walls or containers I4 and I5 having insulation I6 arranged in the annular space between the walls I4 and I5. An annular Igasket .I1 insulates the two walls from one another at the top thereof, and at the same time furnishes .an abutment for the peripheral portion i3 of a cover i9 having an overhanging peripheral flange 2i), thereby sealing the .chamber El within the inner container i5. The cover i9 is provided with a knob 22 for ease of handling.

The outer and inner walls I4 and l5 (Figure l) at the front thereof are bored at two places one above the other, the lower one to receive a window 23 of transparent material secured to the inner wall `as at 2 and having a converging window frame 25 of approximately rectangular outline. The purpose .of the -window 23 is to enable the operator to see the amount of butter remaining in the machine and thus to determina when the machine requires replenishment. Immediately above the window 23 the walls I4 and I are bored in a second place to receive a temperature indicator 26, such as a thermometer, in order to indicate the temperature within the chamber 2I.

The outer wall i4 is secured as at 21 to the top wall 28 of the base casing II, which also is provided with a plurality of tubular spacers 29 (Figure 3) arranged at intervals in a circular path, by which the bottom wall 30 of the inner container I5 is mounted upon the top wall 28 of the base casing i l. At the front of the machine the walls 28 and 35 are held in this spaced relationship by hollow screws 3l inserted through aligned apertures 32 and 33 (Figure 3) and locked in assembly by nuts 34. At the rear of the machine (Figure l) the same function is performed by similar tubular spacers 35 held between the walls t8 and 3i) by solid Screws 35 and nuts 31.

Butter slicing and marking mechanism The heads of the screws 36 are provided with rounded recesses 33 which receive the rounded lower ends of studs 39, the heads 4i] of which are secured to the underside of a material support or abutment in the form of an annular plate di which is thereby spaced vertically from the bottom wall 3U of the inner container I5 (Figure 1). At one side of the machine, the annular plate il is provided with a step i2 (Figures 1 and 2) by which it descends from a higher level portion .-43 toa lower level portion 44. The lower level portion 4t extends about one quarter of the circumference of the plate 4I, and is provided with an arcuate groove 45, which is open at its forward y,end and which serves to protect the bottom of the block or print of butter after it has ,been Vimprinted with a design or insigne, as explained below.

The regrlwardend 46 of the groove 45 adjacent the step 452 is closed and of semi-circular outline, and receives the head of the marking plunger 41 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation at that point (Figures "2 and 4). At that point, the walls 2e Aand 35 are separated by a spacer 29, hollow screw 3i and nut 34 similar to those provided at the front of the machine (Figure 3) and previously described. Each of these hollow screws 3i lis provided with a vertical bore 48 for accommodating a vertical reciprocating member for one purpose or another. The two hollow screws 3i at the front of the machine (Figure 3) serve to receive adjusting plungers i3 and 5] respectively secured to the high level end 5i and low level end 52 of the annular plate lli. The upper end of the plunger is reduced in diameter and is secured in a hole 53 in a boss 5d on the end 52.

The end 5i of ythe annular plate il is provided with a tong-ue 55 which lits through a slot 56 in a swinging U-shaped frame 51. The frame 51 has wings '58 engaging beneath the end to cooperate with the tongue 55 and prevent downward pivotal movement of the frame 51, and also has forwardly extending arms 53a. The frame 51, however, is free to swing upward. Stretched between the arms 58a of the frame 51 is a butter slicing wire 59, the ends of which are secured as by welding orsoldering to the ends of the arms 58a. The height of the wire 59 above the end 52 of the low level portion 44 of the annulal1 plate 4I determines the thickness of the butter pat which is sliced off the lower end of the butter print or block. In order to adjust this height and therefore vary the thickness of the butter pat to be cut, the adjusting plungers 133 and 5i? have rounded lower ends which are received in sockets 60 in the center of adjusting thumb nuts 6I and 52 (Figure 3) threaded upon the lower ends of the hollow screws 3i. Then turning the thumb nuts 5i and G2, the ends 5l and 522 may be raised or lowered so as to vary the spacing of the end 52 from the but er slicing wire 53, and therefore vary the thickness of the pat to be cut.

The bore lf3 of the hollow screw 3S at the side of the machine immediately adjacent the step 42 serves to receive the stem 53` of the marking plunger 4i (Figure 4) which is encircled by a coil spring- 64 to urge the plunger i? downward into a hole R55 in the groove 45. The stern is provided at its lower end with a head and at its upper end with a head t1 provided with a suitable design or trade-mark in relief thereon. The mechanism for reciprocating the stem 53 of the marking plunger 41 in timed relationship with the remainder of the mechanism is described later therein.

To rotatably support the rotary magazine or material holder, generally designated 68 which contains the blocks or prints of butter to be sliced into pats and dispensed, the central portions of the walls 28 and 30 are apertured to receive a cup-shaped downwardly-extending bearing member 69 and annular retaining ring 10 respectively, the latter being secured to the former by screws 1| (Figure 4). The outer flanged portion 12 of the bearing member 59 extends between the bottom walls 38 and 28 and serves as a spacer thereof. The portion i2 is provided with an annular socket 13 for receiving the retaining ring 10.

The bearing member ES is provided with a vertical bore 14 in which is journaled an approximately cylindrical member 15 provided with an annular recess 18 containing a ratchet 11. The member 15 is provided with a vertical bore 18 of polygonal cross-section which receives a stem 19 of corresponding polygonal cross-section extending downward from the hub portion 8D of the magazine S8. The hub portion 88 is approximately circular with peripherally spaced notches 8| (Figures l and 2) which serve to yieldingly receive a detent roller 82 for yielding positioning the magazine 88 in a series of predetermined positions.

The detent roller 82 is rotatably mounted upon the end of a lever 83 which is pivotally mounted upon a pivot screw 84, the roller 82 being yieldingly urged into the notches 8| by a coil spring 85 attached to the opposite end of the lever 83 (Figure 2). The magazine 38 is rotated step by step by means of a pawl 86 engaging the ratchet 11, this pawl 85 passing through a slot 81 (Figure 4) in the cup-shaped bearing member 59. The pawl 83 is urged into engagement with the ratchet 11 by a coil spring 88.

The magazine E8 is of approximately cylindrical form with a botto-rn wall 89 and a side wall Sii rising therefrom. The side Wall 9S is provided at intervals around the periphery thereof with inwardly extending vertical chutes 9| having vertical passageways S2, preferably of approximating square cross-section (Figure 2) for slidably receivingthe prints or blocks of butter 93. The latter are shown as being of the usual standard dimensions, such as for example, for a quarter pound print. It will be obvious, however, that the chute passageways 92 may be 0f circular or of any other shape, depending upon the shape of butter pat desired, and upon the shape of the butter print 93 supplied thereto. The chutes 9| are provided with vertical peripheral slots 94 through which the amount of butter remaining in the chutes 9| is made visible to an observer looking through the window 23 in the front of the machine (Figure 1). The chutes 9| and side wall 90 of the magazine 68 form a continuous closed wall around the periphery of the magazine, enclosing a chamber 95 in the center of the magazine.

The chamber 95 serves as a receptacle for additional prints 93 of butter for replenishment purposes and may also contain ice, dry ice, or other cooling means. Alternatively, cooling may be more accurately accomplished by a mechanical refrigerating unit generally designated 55 (Figure '1) attached to the back of the machine or other suitable portion, such as the hollow base l and connected to a cooling coil or evaporator 91 preferably passing through the space between the outer and inner walls I4 and l5. Electric 6. current for actuating the refrigerating unit 96 is supplied by an electric conductor cable 91 connected to a current outlet, such as an ordinary house Wiring outlet. The refrigerating unit 95 is conventional and its details form no part of the present invention.

I Magazine rotating and indexing mechanism The magazine is rotated step by step and indexed from station to station by motor driven mechanism which reciprocates the pawl 83 and stem. 63 of the marking plunger 41 in timedV relationship (Figure 4). The pawl 86 is pivotally mounted upon a crank pin or stud screw 98, which in turn is eccentrically mounted upon a disc 99 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft |80, the lower end of which is journaled in a gear housing IUI and carries a worm wheel |02. Meshing with the Worm wheel |02 is a worm |03 on the armature shaft |04 of an electric motor |05, the base |86 of which is bolted to a mounting block |01. The latter is secured by the screws |08 to the underside of the top wall 28 of the base housing or casing (Figure 1).

For the purpose of reciprocating the marking plunger 41 in timed relationship, the shaft I 00 also carries a bevel gear |89 meshing with a bevel gear |||l (Figure 4) on the end oi a horizontal shaft The latter is journaled in an arm portion |2 extending laterally from a plate ||3 described hereinafter in more detail, and beyond the Lplate arm ||2 carries the hub of a rotary cam nger I |4 which operates the switchsetting mechanism described below. At its outer end, the shaft is journaled in the arm portion 5 of a second plate ||6 parallel to the plate l I3 and carries the hub of a second rotary cam nger ||1 of approximately crescent shape. The cam linger ||1 in rotating engages the lower head 66 on the marking plunger stem B3 and reciprocates it vertically in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the pawl 8|) which rotates the magazine 68 step by step through its engagement with the ratchet 11.

Control mechanism The control mechanism generally designated ||8 (Figures 5 and 6) by which the energize.- tion of the motor 05 is controlled is mounted upon the two plates Ii 3 and ||6 previously described which in turn are bent at right angles and secured by the screws ||9 to the underside of the top Wall-28 of the base housing Mounted between the lower ends of the plates ||3 and ||6 and secured thereto by the screws |20 is an electric motor control switch |2| of conventional type having a spring-urged operating plunger |22 for opening and closing the circuit between terminals or binding posts |23 and |24 on the lower side of the switch |2|. The motor is energized by conductors |25 and |26, the former emerging from a cable |21 which also carries a conductor |28. The conductors |26 and |28 are connected respectively to the switch terminals |23 and |24 (Figure 1).

'I'he switch plunger |22 is reciprocated in order to electrically interconnect or disconnect the switch terminals |23 and |24 by a rocking lever |29 which is provided with ears |38 pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin |3| which in turn is supported by ears |32 extending upward from the top of the switch I2I. The opposite end of the rocking lever |29 is provided with upwardly extending ears |33 carrying an axle |34 which.

rotatably supports a roller 35. The roller |35 is urged upward by a compression coil spring |36 arranged between the top of the switch |2| and the rocking lever |29.

Mounted in the plane of rotation of the rotary finger ||4 so as to be actuated thereby, is a multi-lobed rotary cam |37 having tooth-like projections |38 alternating with depressions or troughs |39. The rotary cam |31 is loosely and rotatably mounted upon a pivot bolt |49 secured to and extending between the parallel plates H3 and I6. Rigidly connected to the rotary cam |31 so as to move in unison therewith, is a second mul'ti-lobed rotary cam ||i| having lobes |42V provided with arcuateV notches |43 curved to receive the roller |35 carried by the rocking lever |29.

Also secured to the rotary cams |37 and |4| for the purpose of manually rotating them is a gear |44 which meshes with a gear |45 loosely and rotatably mounted on a pivot bolt |46, which in turn is mounted on the plate ||6. Pinned as at |47 to rotate in unison with the gear |45 is a ratchet wheel |48, the teeth of which are engaged by va pawl |49 pivotally mounted on a pin carried by a manually operable lever |5|.A The lower end of the lever |5| is pivotally mounted upon the pivot bolt or stud |46 and at its opposite end passes through a slot |53` in the base housing ii and terminates in a hey or button |54 (Figure l). In order to urge the pawl 5&9 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet |48, the latter is in the form of a bell-crank having a pin |55 connected to a coil spring |55 which in turn is anchored to a pin |51 carried by an upwardly projecting arm portion |58 of the lever |5|. In order to urge the lever |5| upward, the second coil spring 59 is anchored at one end to the pinA hit and at theother end to a pin |69 carried by the plate H6'. The swinging of the lever` |5| is limited by stop pins i6| and |52 respectively mounted at the top and midportion of the plate te.

Butter-receiving structure The pats of butter sliced oli the bottom of the prints 93 are enable to drop downward through a flanged outlet chute |63 mounted in vertically aligned apertures |54 and |65 in the walls 28` and 36 (Figure 3)'. After passing through the chute |55, the `butter pat drops either into the hand of the operator, or onto a plate or dish.y

inserted through an access open-ing |66 in the iront of thev base housing il or drops directly upon` a shelf or floor plate |57 having an edge flange |63 partially surrounding it. The magazine 68 is provided with a central vertical passageway |88 extending downward through the stem 19 for drainage purposes.

Operation In the operation of the invention, the cover I9 is lifted olii andthe chutes 9| are filled with blocks or prints of butter, after which the cover is replaced. In order to properly preserve the butter, it is preferable that some means of cooling t-he butter is provided, but, as previously stated, the rerigerating system such as that shown: at 955 and 9i in Figure 7 forms no part of the present invention.` It is also preferable to maintain the contents of the magazine 6B within a predetermined temperature range in orde-r that theV butter will be of the properv consistency to be slicedv without being eitherr too hard or too soft.4 The thermometer 26 enables the operator to check the temperature at frequent intervals and therefore to maintain the proper temperature. y

The electrical conductors |25 and |28 are energized by connecting them to an electric current outlet, and let it be assumed that the plungers 49 and 55 (Figure 3) have been adjusted by turning the thumb nuts 60 and 62 until the butter slicing Wire 59 is at the proper height above the end 52 of the annual plate 4| to slice pats of the desired thickness off the bottoms of the butter prints 93. The machine is now ready for operation, and the parts are in the positions shown in Figure l, with the switch |2| open.

To operate the machine and slice a pat of butter off a print or block 93 the operator places his finger upon the button |54 and pushes down the lever |5| in the slot |53 as far as it will go. as regulated by the stop pin |62. This action engages the pawl |49 with the ratchet |48 and rotates the latter a partial revolution by pushing the ratchet tooth downward as far as it will go, whereupon it occupies the position adjacent the head of the arrow in Figure 5. From Figure 5 it will be seen that even if the operator depresses the push button |54 and lever |5| again, it will temporarily have no further effect on rotating the ratchet |48 and the mechanism connected thereto because the pawl |49 will merely slide along the back of the preceding ratchet tooth without engagng the step of the tooth itself. This prevents the operator from interfering with the operating cycle once he has started it in operation, such as by redepressing the push button |54 repeatedly after depressing it the rst time. Consequently, the carrying-out of a compiete operating cycle is assured, thereby preventing the carrying-out of a partial operating cycle which might leave the butter pat only partially sliced off the bottom of the block or print 93. When the operator releases the push-button |54, the spring |59 returns the lever |5| to its upper position, leaving the parts in the position shown in Figure 5.

The partial rotation of the ratchet |49 rotates the gear |45 which is pinned to it, and consequently rotates the gear |44 an equal amount in the oppositedirection, thereby rotating the rotary cams |3'| and |4|. The rotation of the cam |4| (Figure 5) causes the roller |35 to roll down from the notch |43 of a lobe |42 into the trough or valley between the lobes |42. This releases the rocking lever |29 and causes it to be rocked by the coil spring |39 so as to depress the switch plunger |22 and close the electric circuit between the terminals |29 and |24'. This action energizes the motor |95 and consequently' rotates the shafts and geared tothe motor armature shaft |94 (Figure 4). The rotation of the shaft |90 and of the disc 99 causes the pawl 8U to engage the ratchet T and rotate the octagonal shaft 'I9 and thev magazine 68 from' one station to another. As the magazine 63 thus rotates' through a partial revolution, the butter print which is nearest the chute G3 (Figure 3) is moved in an arcuate path past the slicing wire 59 into the position shown by the next butter print 93 immediately to the left of the chute, causing a butter pat to be sliced off the bottom of the print 93, the freshly cut new bottom of which comes t0 rest on the end 5| of the higher level portion 43 of the annular plate 4|. Meanwhile, the butter pat, thus severed, drops through the chute |63` into a suitable receptacle and is removed by the operator.

Meanwhile, the rotation of the shaft I I I by the motor (Figure 4) has also swung the cam fingers H4 and III thereon through an arcuate path. The swinging of the finger |I4 causes its rounded end to engage the tooth |38 of the rotary cam |31 and rotate the cam |31 through a partial revolution. This in' turn rotates the cam |4| through a partial revolution suicient to cause its nearest lobe |42 to engage and push down the y roller |35 into one of the notches |43. This causes the rocking lever |29 to swing from the position of Figure 5 to that of Figure 1, permitting the spring-urged switch plunger |22 to move upward and open the circuit to the motor |55. motor |85 and leaves the parts in the positions shown in Figure l, ready for the start of a new butter dispensing cycle.

While the motor has been moving the shaft |09 and ||i through the foregoing cycle, however, the consequent swinging of the cam finger IBG has in the meantime engaged the lower head 66 and pushed it upward, causing the upper head 6'! of the marking plunger 47 tc move upward through the aperture 65 into engagement with the bottom of the butter print 93 which momentarily happens to be over the plunger 41. This action impresses a trade-mark or design upon the bottom of the butter print 93, the edges of which rest upon the edges of the low level plate portion 44 outside the groove 45. The imprinting action of course takes place during the second half of the rotation of the shaft IBI) (Figure 4) after the pawl 89 has advanced the magazine 8 by one station and is being retracted to its previous position. At the end of each cycle the datent roller 82 slips into one of the notches 8| (Figures l and 2) to accurately position the magazine E8.

In the foregoing manner, the motor |05 when energized by the control mechanism ||8 causes the machine to execute a single operating cycle as described above, resulting in the slicing off of a butter pat from the bottom of the nearest butter print 93 and at the same time imprinting the trade-mark or other design on the bottom of the butter pat which is approaching the cut oli point. The action of the rotary cam finger IIa upon the cam |37 returns the ratchet |48 to a position where one of its teeth is within the reach of the pawl |49 when the operator next depresses the push button |54 on the lever |5| to dispense another pat of butter.

The operator repeats the foregoing operations as often as necessary, causing the motor |05 and its accompanying mechanism to index the magazine 68 from station to station so as to slice oi a pat of butter each time the push button |54 is depressed providing that the push button |54 is not depressed too quickly while an operating cycle is still in progress as explained above. In this manner the machine of the present invention dispenses pats of butter quickly and efficiently in any quantity desired. When the operator sees through the window 23 and slots 94 that the supplies of butter in the chutes 9| are nearing exhaustion he removes the cover EB and rells the chutes 9| with butter. The magazine 68 may be easily lifted out of the machine for thorough cleaning if it is desired to do so. It can be acurately replaced in registry with its former position because of the polygonal shaft or stem 'I9 fitting into the corresponding polygonal bore 18.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for dispensing pieces of butter- The opening of the switch |2| halts theA fro like material from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having a butter pat outlet opening therein, a material holder on said structure having a passageway slidably receiving said block, a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, feed mechanism for moving said holder and said cutter relatively to one another to sever pieces of material from a block thereof, a material marking member mounted adjacent said holder, and devices operable in timed relationship with said feed mechanism for moving said member and said block into mutual engagement upon the arrival of said passageway at said marking member.

2. A machine for dispensing pieces of butterlike material from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having a butter pat outlet opening therein, a material holder on said structure having a passageway slidably receiving said block and movable into registry with said outlet opening, a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, a motor feed mechanism drivingly connecting said motor to said holder for moving said holderv and said cutter relatively to one another to sever pieces of material from a block thereof, a motor energization switch in circuit with said motor, and switch operating mechanism including devices responsive to the initiation of an operating cycle 'of said feed mechanism for preventing opening of said switch prior to the completion of said cycle.

3. A machine for dispensing pieces of butterlike lmaterial from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having a butter pat outlet opening therein, a material holder rotatably mounted on said structure with passageways slidably receiving said blocks and movable into registry with said outlet opening, a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, feed mechanism for rotating said holder past said cutter for severing pieces from said blocks, and a material marking member mounted adjacent said holder and operatively connected to said feed mechanism for movement into engagement with said blocks.

4. A machine for dispensing pieces of butterlike material from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having a butter pat outlet opening therein, a material holder rotatably mounted on said structure with passageways slidably receiving said blocks and movable into registry with said outlet opening, a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, feed mechanism for rotating said holder past said cutter for severing pieces from said blocks, and a material marking member mounted adjacent said holder and movable into engagement with said blocks, said mechanism including devices operable in timed relationship therewith for moving said member into engagement with said blocks.

5. A machine for dispensing pieces of butterlike material from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having a butter pat outlet opening therein, a material holder rotatably mounted on said structure with passageways slidably receiving said blocks and movable into registry with said outlet opening, a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, a motor, feed mechanism drivingly connecting said motor to said holder for rotating said holder past said cutter for severing pieces from said blocks, a motor energization switch in circuit with said motor, and switch operating mechanism including devices responsive to the initiation of an operating cycle of said feed mechanism for preventins opening', of: said switch priorto the completion of said cycle..

6. A machiney ier dispensing pieces of. butterlilie material from blocks thereof, comprising, a

Supporting structure havingv a butter pat outlet opening therein,V a` material holder rotatably mounted on said structure with passageways slidably receiving saidblocks and movable into registry with` said outlet opening, ay material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet ope-nina a motor, feed mechanism drivinglyconnecting said motor tol said holder for rotating said holder past said cutter for severing; pieces from said blocks, a material marking member mounted adjacent said holder and movable into engagement with said blocks, said mechanism including devices operable in timed relationship, with. said feed mechanism for moving said member into engagement with said blocks, a motor energization switch in circuit: with saidv motor, and: switch operating mechanism alsoy including; devices responsive to the` initiation of an operatingcycle of= said feed mechanism for preventing opening` oi said switch prior to the completion of said cycle.

7. A machine for dispensing pieces of butternke material from blocks thereof,` comprising a supporting structure having; a butter: Pat. outlet opening therein, a material holder rotatably mounted on said structure.- with passageways slidably receiving said blocks and movable into registry with saidr outlet:V opening; a material cutter arranged adjacent; said outlet opening, mechanism drivinglyconnecting; said motor to said holder for rotating said holder step.by-steh pastv said cutter for severing; pieces: from said blocks, a manually-operated motor energization switch, and devices interconneatingA said' motor 12 energization switch with said feed mechanism and responsive to a starting, motion of said switch for preventing openingl of said switch during the operating cycle of said feed mechanism prior to the completion of said cycle.

8. A machine for dispensing pieces of butterlike material from blocks thereof, comprising a supporting structure having av butter pat. outlet opening therein, a material holder rotatably mounted on said structure with passageways slidably receiving said blocks and movable into registry with said outlet opening,v a material cutter arranged adjacent said outlet opening, mechanism for rotating said holder step-by-step past said cutter for severing pieces from said blocks, a material marking member movably mounted adjacent said holder, said mechanism including connections actuating said member in timed relationshipy with said mechanism, amanually-operated starting element, and devices in- REFERENCES CITED The following references, are. of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,395,978 Winelanrd Nov. 1, 1921 1,407,759 Knox Feb. 28, 1922 11,807,849 Kubon June 2, 1931 2,122,947 Lopez July 5, 1938 2,153,255l Knott Apr. 4, 1939 

